noun
- the quality or state of being subject to an unusually high rate of genetic mutation or change
Usage: technical; biology; genetics
Examples
- The hypermutability of certain cancer cells allows them to evolve resistance to treatment.
- Researchers studied the hypermutability of the virus to understand its rapid evolution.
- Some bacteria exhibit hypermutability under stress conditions, increasing their survival chances.
- The hypermutability phenotype in this strain was linked to defects in DNA repair mechanisms.
- Scientists are investigating whether hypermutability contributes to the pathogen's adaptability.